Saturday, 28 July 2007

Just Wandering Through Life

(Photo: Sunset on Bournemouth Beach, England - 2005)

Okay, so it's my turn to get a bit soppy and sentimental now. Whilst searching for and booking my holiday on the internet, a very fond tune came into my mind. The tune was from a film I watched at my late Grandparents house when I was a very young lad (just about knee high to a grasshopper).

Each time I hear this song, no matter what I am doing, I have to stop...

...closing my eyes I can smell the Sunday dinner cooking, I can hear my grandparents voices as if I was there again, sat on the floor next to my Grandad's armchair with both of us singing along to the film. Such a warm and reassuring feeling, remembering the happy times the whole family had together. It reminds me how fortunate I have been to be born into such a close and caring family. My Grandad died of cancer many years ago, and my Grandmother sadly died in a tragic accident earlier this year. I miss them both dearly.

(Photo: Lake District, England - 2004)

Little did I know then, that this tune would have such a profound affect on my life and my desire to wander. It is the one tune that came to me as I canoed down the Amazon River, sat on the sand dunes in Egypt, rode the camels in Morroco and the Canary Islands, strolled through the streets of Gas Town in Vancouver, stood in the centre of Time Square NY, tried to ski down the snowy slopes of the French Alps, walked through the Harz Mountains of Germany, admired the ruins of the original Olympic buildings in Olympia Greece, stood inside the Colosseum in Rome, sailed on Loch Ness in Scotland and many many more precious moments around the world...

(Photo: 5.00am Sunsrise in the Amazon Basin - 2003)

...every where I travel this tune always goes with me, watching over me. A feeling inside of me that words could never truly describe.

So, you may be wondering what this tune is. It's from the film "Paint Your Wagon", and the singer was Lee Marvin. The song is both mesmorising and melancholy and is called:"I was born under a wondering star".

Please be welcome to press play on the clip below and share a moment from my childhood.

Has there been a song, a film or another moment that has remained with you since your chidhood, staying with you through life(and perhaps had a profound influence on some of the choices you have made)?

It really isn't a song for me but a little phases that helped me learn memorize words when I was young. My grandmother was very sick with Breast cancer and I would go over to her house when I was a young girl and help her cook and clean. I had a hard time spelling hospital and geography.

Wow...what a moving post, Graham! I have songs that do that same thing for me. And those moments, like with our grandparents, are the kinds of moments you just want to bottle up and save forever and ever :)

Great post Graham! I love the way your blog looks. I noticed that you work at a car dealership and I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions about buying a car? I'm going to add a link to your blog on mine, since I love to travel as well!

Zhu, wow..your selection of music is great...and you are such an interesting lady... your blog is simply amazing.

Lori, that's such a nice memory. I remember my parents testing me on my spellings when we were doing the dishes after the evening meals... no I know why I don't like doing dishes anymore - it's like I'm doing homework...LOL!!!

ah young man, young man who could be my son...you made me cry this morning...really cry...and i registered the song in one of my blogs...your name is in my favorites for some time now...I was born in a time where there was no record player at home...I attended the birth of the first program for young peole on French radio..."salut les copains"...I was thirteen...my memory is very poor...my first memories sre more about the 1968 and...the hippies, and all the legends around...I was 22 in 1968...I dreamed a lot, travelled a bit...now life makes me stay home...but I do travel in books, and blogs, mine and others like yours...thank you for this great moment...I'll go on visiting you regularlyMousie-Paisible

Mousie-Paisible. Thank you vey much for such warm words. Your life sounds so interesting. I too have visited your blogs and have found them all very enjoyable, full of characters and feelings and beautiful images. Your mind is so full of amazing creativity. Thank you again for your kind words and I send you many best wishes ~ Graham

It is a bit late here in Greece so I wont write much. I am an avid U2 fan and I love a lot of their songs. My favourite all time U2 song is "Lemon" but if you talk about some tunes that I carry with me to this day and they always evoke strong emotions to me , these would be the following two songs:

What a wonderfully touching post! Beautiful pictures! I can't really pinpoint one song or one film, but I have the most wonderful memories of playing in my Gramma's attic. So much history in there! Thanks for reminding me of the memories! :P

Would you be interested in a link swap? Your site would be a nice addition to my blogroll and my site may help give you direction. Check out my site http://mondaymorningpower.blogspot.com. If you like what you see and agree, then link my site to yours, leave me a comment on my blog that you have done so and I will immediately do the same.

I loved this post as well as reading everyone's comments on how music has profoundly touched them. I know that the music that moves me is what I grew up listening to: my parents' music (CCR, The Guess Who, Wings, Elvis, Kenny Rogers, etc.), and I am constantly aware that the music I play in my own house will be what emotionally moves my own kids to wax nostalgic some day. And the beat goes on...

Paper Fan Club, WOW! Wings, Elvis, Kenny Rogers - What a list of legends and what an era to be brought up in. Your comment is so true, can you imagine our children getting sentimental over Britney or The Spice Girls...somehow it doesn't have the same appeal does it?...Lol!!

Thanks for your kind comment - I am honoured that others are able to enjoy some of the things I write. I truly appreciate all the encouragement that I receive.

Your post on your 'Curious Villager' blog was so "up my street". I frequently pop into London, and when I am there I always try to wander down to Borough Market - I just so love the sights and smells. Your post was so enjoyable to view. I actually did have 'Bangers and Mash' for tea tonight. I'll have to do a post one day, that explains how to make it (trust me, for me to be able to make it, it must be easy..lol!).

mousie, I hope you enjoy the film - I have watched it several times since writing the post - I still get emotional when the song comes on.

pg, it is such an amazing song isn't it? A true moment of nostalgia

Hey Zhu :D, Your comments are great - I love the format. I will take a look at how you did it and will definitely amend my format. Thanks for the tip. Best wishes and kindest regards as always, Graham x

Hey wfw, there's always room for you. I was a lucky young lad, and I realise it now more than ever. I have the best parents in the world, and I had the best granparents too. They all gave so much and I owe them all so much.

hey!those pictures were absolutely beautiful! i just..completely loved them. i also love lee marvin..and especially that song..i'm actually listening to it right now =]__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__--__and yes..my lack of writting does mean that i'm having fun! but, it also means that i have to finish a 35 page algebra II packet before school starts monday..eww.

dc, I'm glad you are having fun and good luck with your algebra (I'm sad to say that I loved doing Algebra when I was at school)... ..anywayz, don't be too long before the next installment of your story!!!!! Azzitizz and I are both waiting to read more :)

Graham's Photobook....Through The Eyes Of A Dreamer

Who is Graham Ettridge?

Graham Ettridge is an Englishman with a curious and wandering soul. Born in Shakespeare’s birthplace town of Stratford Upon Avon in England during the early 1970’s, Graham then grew up in the wonderful county of Wiltshire in England. From here, he has developed a true passion for travel and photography.

The Author's Statement

“It all started with “Oh my goodness! I’m in my late 20’s, I’m single and I have done nothing with my life”. The realisation that hit me like a freight train one spring morning in 2002. My period of procrastination had to come to an end. So, whilst supping a beer in my local pub with a friend, we decided to go on an adventure – and within a few days had arranged a trek through the Sinai desert in Egypt – That’s how it started, and as any avid traveller will know, once you catch the travel bug it never goes away, it just gets stronger. Each time you cross one destination off the top of your list, you add another two to the bottom. The desire to experience new cultures; the want to meet new people; the need to learn more about yourself….it’s all just a footstep away.

“My camera has provided good company during my travels, enabling me to capture some of the special moments that I have experienced. Part of my passion with photography is to take an unusual view of the things around me. To open my eyes wider and to absorb the wonders of nature, architecture, people and objects that very often we take for granted.

“I am a novice photographer, but have an ambition to develop and enhance my technique whilst still trying to hold on to my raw appreciation of life.”